Migrating phone numbers
What is a number Migration Process?
A Migration Process refers to the necessary steps taken when there is a need to move a number from one WABA (WhatsApp Business Account) to another.
It is applicable in various scenarios, such as Migrating a number from one BSP (Business Solution Provider) to another, migrating from Classic signup to Embedded signup WABA, or making changes to payment settings like WABA currency.
Making sure the account is registered as WhatsApp Business API
These steps are only for numbers registered as WhatsApp Business API accounts. If you are not sure your client's number is registered as a WhatsApp Business API, try messaging it.
Note: In some cases, the call icon may not appear correctly on the business accounts of the current desktop version of WhatsApp. If this occurs, you can verify whether the number is registered by checking the message that appears when starting the conversation.
If the message is similar to the one below, it means that the number is still registered on the WhatsApp App. In this case, you should follow the steps outlined here.
How to identify if the WABA is registered in On-premise or Cloud API?
To determine whether a number is registered On-premise or on Cloud API, there are a few methods you can use. One option is to utilize the Partner API or the 360dialog Hub (if the number is already registered with 360dialog). Another option is to start a new conversation with the number and check the message that appears when starting the conversation.
If the WABA is registered in Cloud API
This is the standard message when starting a conversation with a WABA registered on the Cloud API:
[will be deprecated] If the WABA is registered in On-premise API
This is the standard message when starting a conversation with a WABA registered on the On-premise API:
As announced in November 2023, Meta is transitioning to a fully Cloud-hosted WhatsApp Business Platform and will stop supporting On-Premise API in October 2025.
Starting from On-Premise client v2.53, all new feature updates will be exclusively delivered to Cloud API. While the On-Premise API client will receive quarterly releases, they will focus solely on bug fixes and security patches. From May 15, 2024, 360dialog will not allow for new numbers to be onboarded with On-Premise API. We will continue supporting already registered On-Premise API throughout 2024, but we strongly recommend to start changing the hosting type of numbers to Cloud as soon as possible. Learn here how to integrate with Cloud API.
Migration Types
When migrating an account, there are the following possibilities:
Migrate number (alternate BSP or Meta) to 360dialog API
If the current number is registered in On-premise API, once migrated, it will have Cloud hosting with 360dialog, unless the Hosting type is specified during the Account Creation, or, if the Partner Account is not enabled for Cloud API. See our documentation about this here.
To migrate a number from an alternate BSP or Meta to 360dialog API, please follow these steps.
If you have Cloud Enabled to your Partner Account, any number that is migrated to your Partner Hub will automatically be hosted in the Cloud API.
Migrate a phone number from Classic Signup WABA to Embedded Signup WABA
You can migrate numbers onboarded on the deprecated Classic Signup (On Behalf-of) model to Embedded Signup (Shared WABA). For this, please follow the steps described here.
Migrate a phone number to a new WABA with another currency set
To allow for Conversation fees charges in a different currency, the number has to be migrated to a new WABA with the new currency set. For this, please follow the steps described here.
Other Possible Changes
In addition to migrations, there are other scenarios that may require adjustments to a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) while maintaining the same phone number within the same WABA. These instances involve making Account changes, which are distinct from Migration processes.
Rather than transferring a phone number from one WABA to another, these changes focus on updating specific configurations or functionalities within the existing WABA. For instance, it could involve upgrading a number to a Multi-Connect Setup or moving the number from On-premise to Cloud API (vice versa).
When changing the settings of a WABA, there are the following possibilities:
Hosting type Change
If you would like to changing an existing number’s hosting type from 360dialog On-premise to 360dialog Cloud API, please refer to this process.
If you have Cloud Enabled to your Partner Account, any number that is migrated to or created in your Partner Hub will automatically be hosted in the Cloud API.
As announced in November 2023, Meta is transitioning to a fully Cloud-hosted WhatsApp Business Platform and will stop supporting On-Premise API in October 2025.
Starting from On-Premise client v2.53, all new feature updates will be exclusively delivered to Cloud API. While the On-Premise API client will receive quarterly releases, they will focus solely on bug fixes and security patches. From May 15, 2024, 360dialog will not allow for new numbers to be onboarded with On-Premise API. We will continue supporting already registered On-Premise API throughout 2024, but we strongly recommend to start changing the hosting type of numbers to Cloud as soon as possible. Learn here how to integrate with Cloud API.
Partner Change (between 360dialog Partners)
To transfer management of an existing WhatsApp Business Account to a new partner, the Partner Change process must be initiated by the client through the 360dialog Client Hub. The change request can then be accepted via the 360dialog Partner Hub notification center. See Partner Change process.
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